National Sports College Joins Effutu Traditional Council for Aboakyer Festival Launch

 

The Director of the National Sports College, Mr. Fuseini Bawah, together with members of the College’s Management, honored an invitation from the Omanhen of the Effutu Traditional Council, Neenyi Ghartey VII, to grace the official launch of this year’s Aboakyer Festival on 17th February 2026 at Kojo Beedu community center.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Bawah expressed the College’s excitement at once again being part of the celebrations. He emphasized that the National Sports College remains committed to supporting the festival through a vibrant lineup of sporting activities. This year’s program will feature: Triathlon, Athletics relay, Boxing, Marathon events.

The 2026 Aboakyer Festival is scheduled to run from Saturday, April 25 to Sunday, May 3, 2026, under the theme “Advancing our cultural heritage for development.” The launch ceremony highlighted the importance of community participation, with calls for Effutu citizens to support the construction of a new Chiefs Palace.

This year’s celebration also coincides with the 30th anniversary of Neenyi Ghartey VII’s enstoolment, making it a particularly historic occasion. The Paramount Chief emphasized that the festival is not only a cultural event but also a spiritual obligation to ancestors and deities, intended to bring blessings, wellbeing, and unity to the Effutu people.

The Aboakyer Festival, meaning “hunting for game” in Fante, is one of Ghana’s most unique traditional festivals. It commemorates the migration of the Simpafo (the people of Winneba) from Timbuktu to their present settlement.

Traditionally, the festival involved human sacrifice to the gods, but this was later replaced with the ritual hunting and capture of a live deer. Two warrior groups — the Tuafo and the Dentsifo — compete to capture the first live deer, which is then presented as a sacred offering to the gods.

The festival embodies:

  • Spiritual devotion — honoring deities and ancestors through sacred rituals.

  • Cultural preservation — safeguarding traditions passed down for centuries.

  • Community unity — bringing together Effutu citizens and visitors in celebration.

  • Development focus — this year’s theme highlights cultural heritage as a foundation for progress. This year’s Aboakyer Festival promises not only vibrant cultural displays and rituals but also modern sporting events, reinforcing the bond between tradition and contemporary development.

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